2024 Disasters in Numbers
<p>In 2024, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 393 natural hazard-related disasters. These events caused 16,753 fatalities and affected 167.2 million people. Economic losses totaled US$241.95
Natural Disasters
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Disasters killed 20,000 in 2007: study
Natural and man-made disasters killed 20,000 people in 2007 and cost the world economy more than 70 billion dollars (45 billion euros), reinsurer Swiss Re said Tuesday.
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Disaster, nonlinearity and chaos An analysis
An evaluation of disasters in the form of landslides and floods is presented. The study has been carried out in the perspective of nonlinearity, chaos and the complexity of their management.
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Ecologists report huge storm losses in China's forests
From delicate orchids and magnolias to rare Chinese yews and Kwangtung pines, the flora of Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve is considered so precious that ecologists call the reserve "a treasure trove of species." But winter storms have reduced the biological hot spot to a splintered ruin.
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AJYCP ups ante for Majuli protection
The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has upped the ante for securing permanent protection of Majuli. The youth body has started a mass signature campaign in the river island since Wednesday, demanding the direct intervention of the Prime Minister in the matter. It has also rued the "neglect' of the State Government, the "false assurances' by the Centre and the failure of the Brahmaputra Board with regard to fighting the twin problems of floods and erosion in the subdivision. Office-bearers of the youth body claimed that they are receiving the support of all organizations based in the island during the signature campaign. The signature list will later be sent to the Prime Minister. With less than two months left for the rainy season to set in, the islanders have expressed serious dissatisfaction with the anti-projects being implemented by the Brahmaputra Board. The very existence of as many as two xatras has already been threated by the unabated erosion, the AJYCP members pointed out.
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Global warming and agriculture
John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath provides a verbal mural depicting America's experience in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, with its migration of "Okies" from ruined farmlands in Oklahoma and Texas to a not-so-promised land in California. This historical experience and perhaps the present-day drought of biblical proportions in Australia should alert international policymakers to the risks to world agriculture of a hotter and drier world by late this century as a consequence of unarrested global warming. March 2008
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Effect of deforestation on landslides in Nilgiris District
Landslides in Nilgiris are mainly due to rainfall, but human intervention in the form of deforestation and plantation has turned this into a calamity.
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Integrated risk management to protect drinking water and sanitation services facing natural disasters
This report explains the concept of integrated risk management, a strategic and proactive approach to anticipating, assessing and managing natural events. By analysing the main risks and investing in prevention and mitigation, societies become less vulnerable. Financial, social and environmental damage and rehabilitation and reconstruction costs are reduced.
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Rs.5 million disaster relief for three districts
The Government has allocated Rs. 5 million from February 20 to Kalutara, Polonnaruwa and Matara districts to face natural disaster situations and to carry out relief assistance to victims, said Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Badiudeen. Accordingly Rs. 152,000 was allocated to Athuraliya Divisional Secretariat Division in Matara district for flood relief activities. The Government has also released Rs. 767,073 to Dimbulagala, Welikanda and Thamankaduwa Divisional Secretariat Divisions for relief works in case of sudden floods
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Chile's Mapuche tribe renew fight for land rights
Faced by mounting protests and a 110-day-long hunger strike by a jailed indigenous rights activist, Chile's government has agreed to create a high commission for the rights of the indigenous